Outotec has agreed with Eesti Energia, the leading oil shale-to-energy company in the world, to design and deliver a new oil shale preparation plant to be built in Narva, Estonia. The contract value exceeds EUR 20 million.

Outotec is currently delivering a new oil shale processing plant for Eesti Energia in Estonia based on Enefit technology, which has been developed jointly by Eesti Energia and Outotec. The new shale oil production plant in Narva is scheduled for completion in April 2012. Enefit technology utilises a state of the art process of producing shale oil out of oil shale with highest energy return on investment and environmental standards.

This new contract for oil shale preparation plant complements the delivery agreed earlier in 2009 (EUR 110 million). Outotec's scope includes engineering and equipment supply for a two-stage crushing, transport and distribution of run-of-mine oil shale, as well as construction and commissioning services. In the first stage, the oil shale preparation facility will produce annually over 4.5 million tonnes of crushed oil shale to be used as feed for the two existing oil production plants and the new Enefit280 plant. The capacity of the facility can be increased to feed more Enefit280 plants and new power stations as well.

"This contract demonstrates our ability to apply our minerals and metals technologies in adjacent industries, such as oil shale processing. Our expertise in solids handling of difficult materials will significantly improve the efficiency, availability and environmental performance of the applied solid heat carrier technology. We see great opportunities to offer these sustainable solutions for other shale oil plants as well", says Outotec CEO Pertti Korhonen.